Post by Wasp on Feb 10, 2011 19:45:11 GMT
Adams remarks on Queen ‘ironic’
GERRY Adams has been slammed for welcoming the Irish president to Northern Ireland but opposing a visit of the Queen to the Republic.
The criticism came yesterday from the DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after the Sinn Fein president said the Queen’s visit south of the border would be premature.
Mr Adams has recently resigned his West Belfast seat at Westminster and is standing in Co Louth for this month’s elections to the Dail.
Mr Campbell, who repre-sents East Londonderry, said: “Gerry Adams has informed the people of the Irish Republic that the forthcoming visit of HM Queen to that country is ‘premature and too soon’.
“By this statement Mr Adams, or the Crown Steward as he may prefer to be known, has demonstrated the total lack of understanding of the concept of accepting people for what they are.
“He has moved considerably from the position he was in some 30 years ago but by this statement he has shown how much further he needs to travel on his political journey.”
Mr Campbell said: “The president of the Irish Republic can, and does, visit this country on a frequent basis and has done so for years yet when the Queen’s first visit, which has been delayed for years, is finally about to occur he objects to it.
“Mr Adams does not see the irony of him welcoming the Irish Republic’s head of state coming here regularly but objecting to the British head of state going for the first time to the Republic.”
Mr Campbell added: “This is another gaffe to add to an already impressive list.”
Gerry Adams’ comments come after a first visit to the Republic by the Queen appeared to move closer, following backing from the country’s probable next prime minister, the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
There has been widespread speculation that a three-day trip by the Queen will take place in May.
The last British monarch to visit Dublin was George V in 1911, but that was before the the south of Ireland gained independence from Britain.
GERRY Adams has been slammed for welcoming the Irish president to Northern Ireland but opposing a visit of the Queen to the Republic.
The criticism came yesterday from the DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after the Sinn Fein president said the Queen’s visit south of the border would be premature.
Mr Adams has recently resigned his West Belfast seat at Westminster and is standing in Co Louth for this month’s elections to the Dail.
Mr Campbell, who repre-sents East Londonderry, said: “Gerry Adams has informed the people of the Irish Republic that the forthcoming visit of HM Queen to that country is ‘premature and too soon’.
“By this statement Mr Adams, or the Crown Steward as he may prefer to be known, has demonstrated the total lack of understanding of the concept of accepting people for what they are.
“He has moved considerably from the position he was in some 30 years ago but by this statement he has shown how much further he needs to travel on his political journey.”
Mr Campbell said: “The president of the Irish Republic can, and does, visit this country on a frequent basis and has done so for years yet when the Queen’s first visit, which has been delayed for years, is finally about to occur he objects to it.
“Mr Adams does not see the irony of him welcoming the Irish Republic’s head of state coming here regularly but objecting to the British head of state going for the first time to the Republic.”
Mr Campbell added: “This is another gaffe to add to an already impressive list.”
Gerry Adams’ comments come after a first visit to the Republic by the Queen appeared to move closer, following backing from the country’s probable next prime minister, the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
There has been widespread speculation that a three-day trip by the Queen will take place in May.
The last British monarch to visit Dublin was George V in 1911, but that was before the the south of Ireland gained independence from Britain.